Friday 6th July - Assiniboine Park

Despite the hectic previous day we were up as normal at 8.a.m. The dull morning turned into a hot and sunny day and we visited Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg.
We visited the English Garden which is more fre-form than the formal garden. There are a couple of notable statues: The Boy with the Boot and the Queen Victoria Monument which were donated to Winnipeg to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
 There are several gardens within the park, but we also particularly enjoyed the sculpture garden with its numerous bronzes. There is also sculptured stonework that was originally housed on the facade of the Canadian Pacific Railway's Alexandra Hotel, which was considered one of the finest in Western Canada.

 Flowers everywhere

The sculpture of the Coat of Arms of Canada was taken from the annexe to Winnipeg's Main Post Office.

From facade of Royal Alexandra Hotel

Family Group

Coat of Arms of Canada

The Sower

                                                                                    

Queen Victoria Monument

I particulary liked the sculpture of The Sower which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Dutch in Manitoba 1893 - 1993.

Albino Bison

We lunched in the park at the Qualico Family Centre which is located on the banks of the duck pond. The park covers a vast area and it is home to the Pavilion Gallery, zoo and conservatory. Plenty of time is needed to appreciate all that the park has to offer. http://www.assiniboinepark.ca/about/park-story.php
On leaving we saw the "Countess of Dufferin", which was the first steam locomotive to operate in the prairie provinces, and is now housed on the edge of the park.
We returned home via East Kildonan, a residential area in the North East part of Winnipeg, to see the area and house where Neil's aunty & uncle had lived, Gill also took us to the Cemetary to see their grave.
Another tremendous day with highs and lows.

Thursday 5th July - Birthday

Today was the day to celebrate my birthday, I was not allowed to go to Gill's until she had everything in place for me and this meant waiting until 10.30.
She had assembled a flower arrangement, purchased a birthday cake and wrapped presents. How lucky I was.
I had asked to visit The Forks, which is an historic site and green space in downtown Winnipeg, which is located at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1974.
The Forks market began as two adjoining stables for competing rail companies, the horse stalls were joined together by a courtyard and bridges and is now The Forks market. There are numerous restaurants and eateries and work of Canadian artisans. My kind of place!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Forks,_Winnipeg#The_Forks_Market
After lunch there we looked around the crafts, particularly the Prairiescape pottery.

Hotel Fort Garry

 

 

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

 Manitoba Legislative Building

The day turned out to be very hot, 28deg with 30% humidity. We took a  boat trip and our guide was very knowledgeable and had a rather wicked sense of humour - after the season he was going to Cambridge University to study as an actuary. The trip was a refreshing way to travel throughout downtown Winnipeg and the lovely neighbourhoods along the river: Exchange District, St. Boniface and the Museum for Human Rights, which will be the first national museum outside of Ottawa once it is completed in around 2014/15.
The day just seemed to get more hot and the car was parked quite some distance from the entrance to The Forks. A small fleet of drivers with golf carts were happy to oblige and return you to your parked cars. Once back at base we got ready to go out for a meal at Bistro Dansk, West End with Gill and Bette. The food was good and homemade and the portions were extremely generous to say the least.
The celebrations is not end there as once we returned home a neighbour came over and we cut the birthday cake.
Thank you Gill for a memorable day.

Wednesday 4th July - Work & Relax

Up at 8a.m., showered, breakfasted and then it was time for my exercises: I tried hard to keep up with them taking the opportunities as they arose: at bus stops, parks and even whilst waiting for elevators.

Canadian Royal Mint

Gill had arranged for us to go to her place of work and this did not disappoint. I was introduced to the staff whist Neil was given a tour of the plant and shop floor which proved to be very informative and interesting.
Whilst we were there, there was a sudden massive thunder storm and the sky went as black as night. Thankfully, it did not last long and the ground became almost dry instantaneously. Quite remarkable.

 Heading back to Gill's we passed by the Royal Mint, but no better photograph to show it in its splendour. We shopped at Safeway and sat in the gazebo virtually for the remainder of the day. The storm had done nothing to clear the atmosphere or cool things down. Gill played her guitar and we sang along. A scrummy barbecue for supper and we talked all night about travelling, finally returning to the apartment at 11.45.

Two of my favourite items in and around Gill's. 

A few years ago we were lucky to travel to Hong Kong and we were somewhat surprised to see this memorial to a soldier from the Winnipeg Grenadiers.

The inscription reads:
In memory of W.O.2 John Robert Osborn VC
Winnipeg Grenadiers
and through him all those men and women, Service and Civilian, of every race and creed who performed acts of gallantry and self sacrifice in the defence of Hong Kong in December 1941. Erected on this site, which was once Victoiria Barracks, to commemorate the presence of a British Garrison in Hong Kong.

Tuesday 3rd July - Lake Winnipeg and Gimli

We awoke on a sunny morning after a good sleep, the temperature was now 30degC and this would be fairly constant during our stay.
We breakfasted in the apartment and it seemed quite a strange thing to be doing after breakfasting in motels. The first task was to unpack for the first time and sort out our laundry.

Bette's garden

We arrived at Gill's and sat in the gazebo where we found our proposed itinerary for the week and also gifts had been placed on "our" chairs.Today's visit would be to Lake Winnipeg and Gimli.

Totem Pole at Winnipeg Beach

The totem pole is a tribute to the aboriginal people of Manitoba. It was once a 6 foot thick, 30 foot cedar log from the Campbell River in British Columbia. It was carved by Peter Toth and is the 67th carving in a trail that started in 1970 and now reached throughout most of North America.
Lake Winnipeg has an area of 24,500 sq. kms. making it the world's 11th largest freshwater lake.The area is home to the Cree and Ojibway native Canadians.Hudson's Bay Co. explorer Henry Kelsey worked with them to develop the fur trade in the late 16600's. By the early 1700's there was unexpected competition for the trade and by the late 1800's European immigrants arrived on Lake Winnipeg's shores, which included a large settlement from Iceland. There are some fantastic murals on the harbour wall, but sadly I didn't have the opportunity to take photographs of them.

What fun we had!

After a short stay, we motored on to Gimli, a rural municipality, on the Western shore of Lake Winnipeg,which is only an hours drive North from Winnipeg. We lunched on locally caught pickerel from Lake Winnipeg at Kris' Fish & Chips.  Then it was time for relaxation on the white sandy beach. We set up chairs under the shade of a tree and I relaxed whist Neil and Gill went down to the water to collect rocks. On our arrival back at Gill's we were introduced to Bette and her daughter, after supper we sat and relaxed in the gazebo. How good to be able to relax outside.
                                                                                      

** Icelandic settlers quickly set up an almost sovereign nation with their own government system and laws, and the community became known as New Iceland.

Monday 2nd July - Winnipeg

At last! We're on our way to Winnipeg to see a cousin for the first time in 5 years.

We checked out at 10.30 for the short drive to Calgary airport, where we had to drop off our hire car. We were now entering the last week of our trip and, so far, all the planning had worked out. Now was to be a time of relaxation, at least 7 nights in the same bed!
A lady assisted us with the self scan check in, the airport seemed very quiet and we watched some of the Wimbledon coverage whilst we waited. Once we were in the departure lounge we were surprised to hear the announcement:"Ladies & gentlemen I should now be checking you in for flight ***** to Toronto. Unfortunately, we have lost the plane & when we find it I will make further announcements"  Well, it did make all around sit up and take note.
Our departure time was 2.30pm arriving local time 5.20. Once again we had to put our watches/clocks on one hour. We flew over Lake Manitoba and had very clear views of the land.
Gill was waiting for us in the Arrivals Hall and once we were off the escalator there was a lot of hugging! When we arrived at Gill's we were introduced to a neighbour, Bette, whose basement appartment would be our home for the following week. A night of chatting in the gazebo on a very warm night.

 

How nice to be able to go to an appartment and at last how nice to be able to unpack.
What a chagne for Neil, not to be driving.

Sunday 1st July - Canada Day

Canada Day is celebrated on 1st July across the country and marks the anniversary of the formation of the union of the British North America provinces in a federation under the name of Canada. (Akin to the U.S. July 4th) This means the year's biggest celebration!
We awoke at 8.0a.m. showered and had the hotel's "Breakfast Sampler" from the menu, we chatted to the waitress and asked where to go for the day in order to check out the celebrations.
We were not disappointed in her recommendation of Prince's Island Park & took a taxi there. A car free day for the first time in days.

Rest needed!

Peace Bridge

 On our arrival there, we passed through security and got chatting to a man who had emigrated to Calgary ten years previously. He "spotted" us by our Northern accents and it transpired that he had lived only 25 miles away!
The park was huge and had 3 performance stages where live music was being played - from heavy rock to gospel and folk. We soaked in the atmosphere and it was good to have a day of relaxation.

Children's Theatre

 The weather was gloriously sunny and a warm 20degC. We wandered over the Peace Bridge which has been built to accommodate the increasing number of people who commute to and from work, or who simply want to enjoy. The information board told us that currently 120,000 people are employed downtown and over 30,000 live in the city centre. Over 60,000 employees are expected downtown by 2025 and the population is expected to double by 2035. I was fascinated to see a piano positioned by another bridge in the park which was there purely for people to enjoy and "have a go". I somehow cannot see this concept happening here. How refreshing.

  
The park was spotlessly clean: workers in golf buggies were continually riding around to empty the numerous re-cycling bins which were staffed by attendants.
Stalls were numerous and diverse: water, food, balloons, trade and craft. The atmosphere was jovial and friendly. We felt privileged to be a part of it all. We ate at the hotel once again and had a long chat with a couple from Widnes, who were staying in Calgary to meet up with friends and visit the Stampede. Sadly, we would not see this renowned event as we would be on our travels the next day to Winnipeg for a week to stay with a cousin.  we were lucky enough to be able to see the fireworks celebrations in downtown Calgary from our hotel room.                             

Saturday 30th June - Kootenay and Calgary

Banff Avenue & Cascade Mountain

Our request to stay at the motel for a third night was unsuccessful due to it being Canada Day the following day. The place was fully booked and so we had to telephone the hotel in Calgary to beg an extra night. (More of the travel arrangements later.)
We were bitterly disappointed as Banff Avenue was to be closed to traffic on July 1st for a day of celebrations, including a parade, which we were assured was quite a sight.
So we checked out at 9.40 on a sunny and bright morning. We first drove to the other end of Banff Avenue to have a look at the famous Banff Springs Hotel, which in some way seemed to resemble "Hogwarts". Very close to the hotel are Bow Falls, a major waterfall on the Bow River, which featured in the 1953 Marilyn Monroe film: "River of  No Return"

Bow River

Banff Springs Hotel

 Before we left Banff we headed for Kootenay National Park and Vermillion Crossing & Radium Hot Springs. Radium Hot Springs was a meeting point for plains & mountain Indians who enjoyed the soothing waters. (Kootenay means "people from the hills").
Over one million visitors annually go to absorb the hot mineral waters.
The drive proved to be a long one and the weather turned to rain and mist - Saturday again! If any one part of the trip was disappointing, to us this was it. To relieve the boredom I thought that a game of I-Spy may be the antidote.
It soon became obvious that all we could see was T, DT or R: Tree, Dead Tree or River.
The trees are deliberately set on fire to eradicate the pine bug, so there were miles of scorched looking trees.
Then we saw a big information board which informed us that we were on the Continental Divide:  a drainage divide on a continent such that the drainage basin on one side of the divide feeds into one ocean and the basin on the other side either feeds into a different ocean. All very fascinating to read about.

Continental Divide

The sign reads: on the left - Alberta, Banff National Park,
on the right - British Columbia, Kootenay National Park and the middle sign reads - Continental Divide Altitude 5382 ft above sea level/Atlantic Ocean Left & Pacific Ocean Right.
The question was: were we on Pacific time, Mountain time or British Columbia time?
We continued along the Bow Valley Trail to Radium Hot Springs, which probably has more hotel rooms, shops and coffee shops than residents. After a quick snack for lunch it was time to do the whole journey in reverse, returning to Banff before motoring on to Calgary.

  View of Calgary from hotel balcony. Spot The Rockies.

T or D.T.

 The journey from Banff to Calgary was different again: flat, pasture land with grazing cattle. The first big town was Cranmore, about 50 miles eastwards, which had once been a  booming coal mining town.
We continued to travel along Highway 1A and at one stage were surprised to see a Casino with nearby teepee's - these house the Stoney Nakoda First Nation people. Fascinating to be sitting almost side by side. The drive from Banff to Calgary is about 80 miles and takes around 2hours. We checked into our hotel: The
Radisson Calgary Airport at 6.16p.m. on a very hot evening. From our hotel room we could see downtown Calgary with The Rockies as a backdrop.
We decided to eat in the hotel, which was being decorated with hay bales and ranch fencing in readiness for the Calgary Stampede the following week.
 

Friday 29th June - Lake Louise

Charlton's Cedar Court

Hooray, a lie in - 7.45!
We breakfasted with a couple from the Medway Towns and set off into Banff to the launderette which was situated in the basement if a small shopping mall. Once we were sorted Neil went out for supplies and to find a welcome coffee. I use the term "My Beautiful Launderette" loosely, but it sure was. Potted plants and flowers decorated the place & music kept us amused whilst we washed and dried our belongings. I got chatting to a couple, he was from Dublin and she was from Vancouver and was clearly not happy with his attempts at assistance. (Well, he did put pairs of Levi's in the drier along with other washing and it was taking an age to dry)
Once completed we headed for Lake Louise some 32 miles away. On route I topped up the Canadian cell phone that I bought in Vancouver and was guided through the process by an "automated Andrea". Yes! That is how she introduced herself.

Lake Louise

 

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

Lake Louise was named in 1884 in honour of Princess Louise, Queen Victoria's 4th daughter. The first chalet was built on its shore in 1890, but it is probable that the first visitors arrived 10,000 years earlier. The were plenty of information boards telling its history, native wildlife and flora & fauna.
The lake stands 1731 mtrs above sea level and lies in the sub-alpine zone. winters are long and cold and summer is short and cool. The average daily temperature in January is -14deg C and +13deg C in July.
Whilst we were there the prestigious Chateau Lake Louise were putting preparations in place for a wedding that was going to take place in the grounds overlooking the Lake. What a setting I thought and at what price!

Lake Minnewanka

On the return to Banff we drove along the shoreline trail of Lake Minnewanka which translates as Lake of the Spirit. This lake is the largest in Banff National Park at 120kms long and 2kms wide at its widest point. Scuba divers are now the only ones to visit Minnewanka Landing as it is all under water,.The Lake was first dammed in1895 to improve the boggy shoreline for boating.It was dammed again in 1912 this time to store water for a downstream hydro-electric plant.Construction of the final dam occurred in 1941. More stunning scenery, the superlatives are just endless.

Once back at the hotel, it was a quick turnaround and out once again to Banff on the 7.40p.m. bus, returning on the 10.04.
We ate at the Irish Pub where live music was playing and got chatting to a couple from Lemington Spa, who were touring before meeting relatives in Calgary.